Member News

Member News

The Conservative’s Case for the European Union

Those of us who believe in freedom and free markets must defend Brussels from the Euroskeptic onslaught. If the number of tasteless analogies is any indication, few things make for targets of conservatives’ disdain like the European Union. In a speech to the European Parliament in 2009, Vaclav Klaus, then the climate-change-denying president of the Czech Republic, celebrated in free market circles for the radical economic reforms he put in place in the early 1990s, comparedthe EU to the Soviet empire....

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Member News

Granito loves Formula 1

Granito is proud to announce the newest additions to the racing fleet of Dream Racing on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The Porsche 911 GT Race Car now stands beside the rest of the fleet, some of which can be seen below. In addition, the actual 750 hp Caterham CT01 F1 car driven by Heikki Kovalainen in 2012 is on display in the simulator room. Granito compliments Dream Racing for the new car racing experiences now available on the track and its continuation of 3D-simulator...

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Member News

Important Changes to Become Effective Oct. 1 Permitting Earlier Filings of Adjustment of Status Applications

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the U.S. State Department have announced significant changes to make it possible for eligible employer-sponsored foreign nationals to file applications for adjustment of status to permanent residence before an immigrant visa number becomes available. The new changes establish a separate priority date list for the filing of adjustment of status applications, as well as a separate list for when adjustment cases can be approved. In October 2015, for example, USCIS will accept adjustment of status applications from Indian...

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Member News

Second Circuit Rules Internal Whistleblowers Are Protected Under Dodd-Frank

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit created a federal appellate split today when it revived a Dodd-Frank Act retaliation claim by an ex-finance director, who was responsible for the company’s financial reporting and compliance with accounting standards. The court held that he was protected even though he only raised claims of accounting fraud internally with his employer, but did not report them to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC or the Commission) before he was terminated.  The...

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Member News, New York Related News

Trepp Credit Story: 100% Loss for Times Square Loan

According to September remittance data, the $25.7 million 1604 Broadway note was written off in full this month. The loan made up 0.86% of GECMC 2007-C1, which has now taken 8% in cumulative bond loss. The loan was backed by a 29,875 square-foot retail property located in the theater district of Times Square. The note was initially transferred to special servicing in November 2009 after losing its top tenant, Spotlight Times Square, to bankruptcy. The loan defaulted a month later and failed to refinance when it...

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Member News

TREPP Analysis: CMBS Volume Remains Elevated

After an off-season dominated by accusations, suspensions, name-calling, and courtroom drama, the NFL finally gave football fans what they wanted when the Patriots hosted the Steelers on opening night. The game was not without something for the conspiracy theorists: Steelers coach Mike Tomlin complained that the Pats' radio broadcast was coming through his headset throughout the first half. After an off-month low-lighted by a spike in volatility, sizable stock market losses, hand-wringing, and teeth-gnashing, the financial markets finally gave investors...

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Member News

Important Changes to Greencard Process – U.S. Department of State’s Visa Bulletin

On September 9, 2015, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services announced important changes impacting certain individuals in the permanent residence (“green card”) process. This change will allow some individuals to file the last step of the green card process, the application for adjustment of status, even if their priority date is not current. The DOS has been moving steadily towards reforming its process for calculating immigrant visa (“green card”) availability. In July 2015,...

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Member News

Granito, selected Manager for the Italian Ministry of Economic Development

  GRANITO is pleased to announce that over the summer it has been appointed by the Ministry of Economic Development as one of the few expert managers entitled to assist Italian SMEs in connection with new State funds for internationalization. GRANITO, whose core business consists of assisting companies when expanding their business abroad, has been selected as one of the key managers able to provide services which are funded by the so called "vouchers for internationalization", a traditional funding measure issued by Italian...

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Member News

Portuguese Footwear industry to invest €160m by 2020 as export drive continues

Portugal's footwear manufacturing sector expects to invest some €160 million between now and 2020 and aims to obtain "formal public recognition" as an industrial cluster, the leather and footwear sector association APICCAPS announced on Tuesday. According to the group, the planned investments with European Union help are to be channeled above all into innovation, with €50 million above all going to explore new techniques, technologies and materials; internationalization, with €70 million; and training, with €36 million. Over the next decade the...

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Member News

Robert Bosch Foundation Fellowship Program: Call for Nominations

The Robert Bosch Foundation and Cultural Vistas invite US professionals to apply for the 2016-2017 Robert Bosch Foundation Fellowship Program. Bosch Fellows work as consultants in their field of expertise at leading public or private institutions in Germany. Fellows also participate in professional seminars, where they travel to meet and exchange ideas with key figures across Germany and Europe. Fellows are from the fields of business administration, cultural management, journalism, law, non-profit, public policy, and urban planning. PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: High-level work...

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